Ignition apparatus.



V G. HANIQUBT. IGNITION APPARATUS. APPLIOATIONIILED .TUNE 11, 1908,

Patented oct.19,19o9.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

Gr. HANIQUET. IGNITION APPARATUS. MPLIGATION FILED JUNE 11. 1909.

' Patented Oct. 19, 1909,

A Manns-SHEET 2.

l 7 Qu ATTORNEYS Cil To all whom it may concern:

esoneri neivieunr, or tendensen, JA-mineure.

reafirma Armeniens.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Ebateiited tiet. 19,1399.,

application ed'L-Iune 11, 1.908. Serial No. 4373572.

Beit known that I, Grenen Himmler, a citizen oi thefUnited States, and a resident of' Longbeach, in the county of Los Angeles and State of California, have invented a new and Improved ignition Apparatus, odi-Which the following is a full, clear, andexact description. n

My invention seeksto provide means'fo'r retaining a-tliin lubricating oil within a circuit closer; ln addition my invention com prehends mechanism for reducingy the electrical arcing as the Contact' slice leaves the contact bar.

My invention further contemplates-slow ing down the speed oi the circuit closer shaft, as comparedwith the main shaft.

Reference is to be had-to the accompanyingy drawings, 'forming a part of this specification, iii which drawings-like characters of reference Aindicate like parts throughout the views, and in which- Figure 1 is a substantially central vertical section through my improved circuit closer, this view showing the arrangement of the stationary contact bars and the revoluble brush, together with its guide and the parts associated therewith;

in the direction of the' arrow, and showing tliefrelative arrangement and distribution of the .stationary contact bars within the circuit closer, and further showing how the revolublecontact brush and its accompanying parts are mounted; Fig. 3 isa fragmentary pern spective showing one of the stationary ccntact bars removedirom the circuit closer, this view showing one of the bolts provided with binding post for suppl-ying current tothe distributing band; Fig. A1 is a diagrammatic view, otherwise somewhat similar to Fig. 2, tions for the contact bars used. to distribute the-primary currents; l'1`ig-5 is a. detail, showing-in section certain parte oi' my improved circuit'closer and the thin oil isretained t`or the purpose' of keeping it in permanent and thorough en` gageinent with the various wearing parts, and Fig. 6 is a front View, partly diagrammatic and partly in elevation, o an engine complete and circuit closer and further provided with gearing connected with the engine;y hatt and driven thereby, this gearing bei, f so arrangedas to drive'the circuit closer shaft Fig. 2 is a horizontalv section upon the line 2-2 ot' Fig. 1, looking and showing the electrical conneo' showingparticularly how' provided with my improvedat a speed slow as compared with that of the engine shaft, the View further showingv the wiring ofthe system.

The general arrangement of the mechanisin is indicated. in Fig. 6. The engine is shown at 6 and is provided with a main shaft 7, carrying a fly wheel 8 and a pinion 9. Another shaft 10 carries a gear wheel 11, secured rigidly upon it, tliisgear meshing' with the pinion 9. Mounted upon'the shaft 10 is a spiral'gear 12 which meshes with an`- other spiral gear 13, the latter being mounted rigidly upon the lower end of a counter shafft 14. The counter shaft 14: is supported by stationary bearings 15, 16. The spark plugs are shown at 17,/18, 19, 20, there being in this instance four of them, as the engine shown is of the plosive charges to the inain shaft. tive spark plugs supplying secondary currents to them.

Referring now more pai'ticularlyto Fi s. 1 and 2, the circuit closer mechanism willie described. Binding posts 25, 26, 27, 28 (there being four in this particular case) are connected respectively with bolts 32, 29, 30, 31. These bolts lead iespectivclyto the contact bars 36, 33, 34 and 35. These con-I tact bolts or bars are in,1 electrical communi-' cation with distributing bands 3 7, 38, 39 and 40. Each of'these last mentioned bands is in electrical communication with four, and four only, of the Contact bars'. The arrangement of one of the contact bars and' the distributing band with which itv is connected is shown in Fig.l 3. The bolt 30, being rigidlyconnected y fill-extends through the band 39. This bolt is threaded and is fitted with a revoluble nut 26" which may be forced down upon the band (see Fic. 3.) The nmanner in which' type employing four eX- every two revolutions ofv Connected with the respecbe understocdirom Figs. 1, 2 and 4. The

distributing band 40, same plane as the bolt for instance, is'in the 31, which is provided with the binding post 28. In' this sameV plane are also bolts 31a which, together with' the bolt 31, connect' all of the Contact bars 35 with the distributing band 40,' and with no other distributing) band. Similarlyuthe bolt 32, carrying the trically connected with with no other contact bars. The bolts 29 indin'g post'25, is elec# the distributing band' .537, the latter being at all'times in electrical `communication with the contact bars 36, and

are wires 21, 22, 23, 24%, for

With the contact bar' and 30, having binding posts 26, 27, are in like manner connected individually cach with its own distributing band 3S, 32). llhc contact bars 3 35 and 3U are thus clectrically arrangedy in groups,.t`our bars (here in designated by the same numeral) being connected with cach distributing band, the four' bars in question being spaced equidistant. This arrangement can be observed in i Fig. 2, wherein four bars each bearing the numeral 35 are severally connected with the band 40, and placed one at the top, one at the right, one at the bottom and one at the left accordingto this figure., The other contact bars are similarly arranged with regard to spacing and to their connections to the distributing bands. It will be under- Stood, however, (see Fig. 1) that while the contact bars are thus somewhat independent of each other as regards their electrical connections, they are disposed symmetrically as regards their geometrical positions, and they are all of a common length as will be understood from Fig. 1.

Secured rigidly upon the counter-shaft 14 is a collar 4l, held in position by a screw 41, as will be understood from Fig. 1. Mounted revolubly upon this Collar 4.1 and encircling the counter -shaft 14 is a support comprising a hub 42 carrying a disk 43 oit metal, and also carrying a cup-like portion 42, both of these parts being integral with the hub. Secured upon this disk is an arm 44, for the purpose of turning the disk slightly in order to adjust it to advance or to retard the spark as desired. A pair of rings 45, 46 of insulating material, preferably iber or rubber, are disposed opposite each other and engaging the ring 46 is a disk 47 of metal Bolts 48, 49 pass through the disks 43, 45, 4G and 47 for the purpose of clamping the disks and rings firmly together, and also through a large ring' 50 of insulating mate rial, the latter being disposed intermediate the rings 45, 46. A crank arm 53 is mounted upon the upperend of the counter-shaft 14. This crank arm 53 carries a smaller arm 54, the latter being journaled upon the arm 53 by aid of a pivot pin 55, as will be understood by Fig. 2. The arm 54 I designate as a contact arm, and it is adapted to swing upon the crank arm 53 because of its pivotal connection therewith. The outer or tree end of the Contact arm 54 is provided with a contact shoe 56, which may be brought successively into engagement with the various contact bars 33, 34, 35, 36. The end of the Contact` arm 54 opposite the contact shoe 56 is pro` vided with a small hole 57 and by aid of' this hole a spring 58 is connected with the bar 54. This spring is also connectcd'with a lug 59 integral with the crank arm 53. [i sleeve 60, also integral with the crank arm 53 partially encircles the upper end of the countershaft ,-1 screw plugl o'l is inserted in the upper end ot the count -att 14, which is bored and threaded for this purpose and is provided with slots (32, thc purpose nl which is to allow the upper end ot the countershaft to expand slightly when the screw plug (il is forced into it, so as to open the slots 52. This arrangement enables the crank arm 53, and consctplcntly the lug 5S), to be adjusted relatively to the countei'-sln1ft 14. The Contact shoe 5G, owing to the rcsilicnce ot' the spring 58, is Ytree to lvield slightly as it successively engages and disengagcs the contact bars. The inner `li'accs ol these Contact bars are slightly rounded, as lwill be understood 'from Figs. and 3.

A battery (sce (5) is shown at From this battery leads a wire (34, and connected in multiple with this wire are a nuinber ot' shorter wires 65, (3G, (37, ($3, leading to the primary windings of a number of unit induction coils 69, 70, 71, 72. These induction coils are severally provided with interrupters 73, 74, 75, 7G, these intcriuptcrs being connected each with a wire 77, '78, 79, 80. lhese wires (see Fig. 2) lead to the binding posts 25, 25, 27, 28, and through these binding posts and parts immediately associated therewith, as above described, the wires in question are connected with the various distributing bands 37, 33, 39, 40. Connected with the battery (33 is a wire 3l, which leads to a hand switch 82, the latter being connected by a wire 83 with any convenient inetallic portion 84 of the engine G. /i volume of thin oil 85 (see Fig'. 5) 'is placed within the circuit closer for the lubrication ot the various wearing parts. ln Fig. 5 a considerable number of parts are removed for the purpose of indicating more clearly how the oil is retained.

The operation of my device is as follows: The hand switch 82 being closed, the various primary circuits will be closed in succession as the shaft 7 rotates, the opening and closing of cach primary circuit being due to the engagement and disengagement of the contact shoe 56 relatively to the various contact bars 33, 34, 35, 36. Assuming, for instance, that the contact shoe 56 is in engagement with the contact bar 35, as indicated in Fig. 2, it is clear that, for the moment, the distributing band 40 is in electrical communication with the contact shoe, the following circuit being complete: battery (33, wires G4, 68, primary winding of coil 72, interrupter 7G, wire 30, binding post 23 (sce Fig. 2) distributing band 40, bolt 31, contact bar 35, Contact shoe 56, circuit closer arm 54,

4crank arm 53, counter-shaft 14 to framework of. engine; thence through wire 83, switch 82 and wire 81 back to battery 63. i. secondary current now passes through the Wire 2l to spark plug 17 and causes an explosion. The

contact shoe 56 neat, engages the Contact bar 3.4 (see bottom of Fig. 2), This completes the following primary circuit:- battery G3, Wires'-i, 6?, to primary Winding ot coil l, interriipter 75, Wire 79, binding post 2T, distiributim;` hand 39 (see right of Fig. 4) boltv 30, contact bar 34, contact shoe 56, Contact erm 54, crank erin 53, shaft 14H30 frame- Worl; of engine, thence through Wirel 83, switch S2 and Wire 81 back to battery 6.3. secondary current being induced 4in 'the secondary/Winding of coil 7l, flows through Wire 22 to spart plug 18, thereby causing a second explosion. The commutetor shoe 56. next engages the contact har 33, thereby completing the primary circuit: battery .63, Wires 64, 66, primary winding of coil 70, iiiterrupter 74, Wire '(8, binding post 26 (see right of Fig. 2,) distributing band 38, bolt 2.9, Contact bar 33, Contact shoe 56, arni 54, crank 53, shaft 14,' to frameworltof engine, thence through Wire 83, switch 82 and Wire 8l back to battery 63. A secondery Windingl of the coil Y() thereupon induces o, secondari current which flows through the Wire 23 to the speri; plug,r i9, causing a. third explosion. The contact shoe 5G next engages the Contact bei' 36, completing` the iollovvinp,` circuit: battery 63, wires 611, G5, primary Winding of coil 69, interruptor 73, wire 77 to bindingpost F25 (see upper portion of Fig. 2), distributing: band 37, bolt 32, contact har 36, Contact shoe 56, erin crank 53, shaft 14 to framework et' engine, Wire 83, switch 82, wire 8l, beck to battery riflie secondary Winding oi the coil G9 thereupon induces e secondary current which flows through the Wire 24 to the spark plug 20, thereby causing the fourth explosion. The contact shoe 56 next moves into engagement with the contact ber 35, and the several successive operations above described are repeated in the saine order. Sini/ie the contact brush on eech of its revolutions, engages and disengages tour Contact bars of the same kind, and havin er the suine connection to n, particular coil unit, it follows that the coil unit in question niust be energized four times 'during eech revolution of the counter-slioft ifi. This ineens that each turn of the counter-shaft 14: controls the stopping and starting of sixteen spurl; discharges, representing eight tiirns of tlie ninin shaft. Of course, in o simpler engine Where there are fewer spark plugs, the sume principle is applicable,l

The principle of the device is also applicable in engines employing but eight Contact bers in connection With e. four-cylinder, tour-cycle motor and having); Contact bers connected With each distributingbend and having the contact brush turn one complete revolution for every four turns of the mein shaft, the engine controllingl eight spark discharges for euch revolution 0i the circuit closer shaft, The tii'ningiof the sparks is governed by the handle fle substantially in the ssualv manner.. The geeringconnecting the mein shaft. 'i'V Withthe counterfeheftslii serving es the circnitcloser sheft; is eightfto one; therotetion of, the circuit closer shaft and o f the'brush cerriedby it is,itherefore, comparatively slow. It Wi1l tl'nis,be.iioted that in my device l' slow downthespeedwof the circuitA closer shaft and yet obtain-en adequate number of spariti,4 The evils rapid rotation in the circuitcloser shaft-ere so well known es to need no, description. .in

high speed engines it isnecessery, tio-haven rapid play of the spark plugsbntfthere.isn speed limit beyond which the circuit closer shaft and brush cannot safely becerricd, and in ordinary constructions thisgliniitissoon reached. By. myA construction-the limitzin" question is not reached .so soon, the-result heilig that lthe engine een maintain e greer speed und Without any ercing et thereon-tact points. i

l cull special attention to thoconstrufetion `of the circuitcloser brush und, ports eccompanying it, for the purpose. of engaging,y Athe contact bars,1 this brush,ipc-nug-t especially suitable for my purpose,ziltlioughl-,do not 'i ull instances limit myself. to. its -use,l-, `also cell special attention tothe construction of the mechanism shovvnin Figs, l :ind the' disk 43 being integralv Witlnthe hub; i2 and the cup 42a encircling the-upper end of the sheit 4, so es to form e non-leaking oil reser-` voir.

This ciiicuitrc-loser can oe used oneitlier tivo or .tonr-cycle' engines,

engine.v

Hoving thus described claim as new and desire to Patent:

1. The combination of e iality of distributing rings support :uid insulated from each other, e series oit contacts arranged in e circle and connected with the distributing rings in groups, each group being v connected to a ring, electrical connections for the several groups of contacts, und e revoluble brush for successively' engaging the contacts.

2. The combination of e support, distributing rings carried by the support and insulated from each other, e plurality of contact bars within the support and arranged in ii circle, bolts connecting;y the contact bers in groups with the distributing rings, euch secure by Letters support, plucarried by the group being connected to-o distinct ring,

separate electrical connections,/"for the different groups, and e revolulole brush for successively engaging the contr-t 3. rThe combination within support coinprising a hub having e, danger, n ring like I body of insulating material carried by the Harige of the nio-end u cop pitite, of distributing rings on the outer periphery oi the insulating body, Contact here on the inner periphery of the insulating; body, bolts con on, in, fache any;

y intention,

ef: esmas necting the contact bars in groups With the distributing rings, ach group heilig connected to a distinct ring, electrical connections tor the several `groups ot' contacts, and a revoluble brush for successively engaging the contact bars.

t. rlhe combination ot' a` plurality of contact bars arranged substantially in the form of a circle, and occnpyiiig a coninion plane, a plurality ot distriluiting rings, each distributing ring being electrically connected with a plurality of said contact bars, the contact bars connected with one distributing ring being interspersed among the Contact bars connected with other distributing rings so that cach distributingl ring with its contact hars inay be insulated 'troni other contact rings with their contact bars, electrical connections for each contact ring, and a brush revolubly mounted and provided with a portion for engaging and disengagiiig said contact bars individually,

In an ignition device for explosive engines, the con'ibination with a niain shaft and spark plugs, of a shaft` a reducing gearing for driving the shaft troni the main shatt, a support carried by the shaft, distributing rings carried by the support and -insulated from each other, contact bars arranged in a. circle within the support, means for electrically connecting the contact bars in groups with 'the distributing rings, each group being connected to ay distinct ring, a wire connected with each group of contacts, an induction coil connected with each Wire, a battery connected with the induction coils, a wire le; ding from each induction coil to a spark plug, and a Contact brush on the upper end of the said shaft.

6. In an ignition device for explosive engines, the combination of an insulating hub-like support, distributing rings on the periphery of the support, a plurality of contact bars arranged in a circle Within the support, means connecting the contact bars in groups with the distributing rings, each group being connected to a distinct ring, electrical connections between the different groups of bars, and a revolving brush for successively engaging the contact bars.

T. ln an ignition device for explosive engines, the combination With a shaft, a hub having a `flange and a central cup-like portion, a ring like body of insulating inaterial carried by the flange ot' the hub, oppositely arranged disks ot' insulating material, and a cap plate on the upper insulating disk, of distributing rings on the outer periphery of the insulating body, contact bars on the inner periphery of said body, nieans connecting the contact bars in groups with the distributing rings, each group being connected to a distinct ring, electrical connections for the several groups of contact bars, and a revolving brush adjustably mounted on the upper end of the shaft Within the hub.

ln testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

GEO. HANIQUET.

Vitnesses Fano. E. SHIELDS, FRANK E. STRONG; 

